The dust from the shattered gargoyle still lingered in the air as the other remained.

  “Shields, keep holding!”

  “Rangers, spread your fire! Vanguards, assist the Tankers!”

  The slimes moved instantly, their formation shifting accordingly.

  The two remaining gargoyles didn’t hesitate. The one to my left lunged forward, its claws swiping at the shield-bearing slimes holding the line. The impact was powerful, sending one of the shields skidding back slightly, the slime quivering as it absorbed the brunt of the blow.

  “Hold steady!” I shouted.

  The second gargoyle took off, its jagged wings cutting through the air as it circled above us. It wasn’t coming for me—not yet. Instead, it hovered, scanning for a weak spot in the formation.

  “Rangers, bring it down!” I ordered, pointing at the airborne threat.

  The Rangers adjusted their aim, letting bolts fly toward the gargoyle. Some struck, but the gargoyle moved with surprising agility, evading most of the volley. The few bolts that hit chipped away at its stone exterior, but they barely seemed to faze it.

  On the ground, the second gargoyle let out a deafening roar and pressed its attack. It swiped at the closest shield-bearer, its claws raking across the gelatinous shield and scattering chunks of slime onto the floor.

  “Vanguards, support the shields!” I called out.

  Three Vanguards charged ahead, greatswords held high. In perfect sync, they swung their massive blades, crashing into the gargoyle’s side. The creature snarled, staggering as its stone shell splintered under the force of the assault.

  The gargoyle lashed out, its spiked tail whipping through the air. The strike connected with one of the Vanguards, hurling it backward. The slime hit the ground with a wet smack.

  Above us, the airborne gargoyle swooped down, its claws outstretched. It dove toward the Rangers.

  “Rangers, scatter!” I yelled, my heart pounding.

  The slimes reacted instantly, spreading out just as the gargoyle crashed into the spot where they had been standing. The impact sent shards of stone flying, and the force of its landing shook the floor beneath us.

  “Vanguards, hit it while it’s grounded!”

  Four Vanguards rushed in, their greatswords swinging in wide arcs. One blade slammed into the gargoyle’s wing, shattering part of its structure, while the other struck its leg, causing the creature to stagger.

  The gargoyle wasn’t done yet. Letting out a guttural roar, it twisted around, claws slicing through the air and forcing the Vanguards to retreat. Its battered wings flapped just enough to lift it off the ground for a moment before it crashed back down.

  Seizing the moment, the grounded gargoyle launched itself at the shield-bearers. One of the tanks began to falter, their stance wavering as they struggled to hold the line, It couldn't hold much longer.

  “Rangers, focus fire on the one attacking the tanks!” I shouted.

  bolts rained down, striking the gargoyle’s back and legs. It let out a furious roar, its movements growing sluggish as the attacks took their toll.

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  “Vanguards, take it out now!” I barked.

  Distracted by the barrage and its own relentless assault, the grounded gargoyle left itself open. The Vanguards didn’t waste the chance. The greatswords cleaved through its torso, another shattered its already damaged wing, and a final blow crushed its head, reducing the beast to a pile of rubble.

  The dust from the second gargoyle’s shattered remains was still hanging in the air when Lila’s voice pierced through the chaos.

  “Leon!” she shouted. “More enemies—left and right corridors!”

  I snapped my head toward the darkened hallways branching off from the grand chamber. Shadows shifted in the distance. More gargoyles were coming.

  My eyes darted upward, locking onto the Eyebat silently hovering above us. Its grotesque eye fixated on us, unblinking.

  As long as it stayed alive, it would keep broadcasting our location, pulling in every nearby gargoyle like a damn beacon.

  The current situation was manageable, but if the gargoyle numbers grew beyond what my slimes could handle, we’d be overwhelmed in no time.

  “That bat!” I barked, pointing upward. "Rangers, shift your focus! Bring it down!”

  The Rangers adjusted instantly, their crossbows angling upward to track the Eyebat’s erratic movements.

  The Eyebat, as if sensing the shift in our priorities, darted higher into the air. Bolts soared toward it, but the creature was fast, weaving and darting through the air with infuriating swiftness.

  The Eyebat banked sharply to the left, effortlessly avoiding another volley of bolts. Its small size and incredible speed made it nearly impossible to hit.

  The slimes fired again, but it was no use. The creature’s hitbox was far too small, and its unpredictable movements turned every shot into a gamble. To make things worse, the bolts lost most of their momentum by the time they reached it, giving the creature even more time to dodge.

  “Damn it,” I muttered under my breath, frustration bubbling up as the Eyebat continued to circle above us.

  “Leon!” Lila’s voice broke through my thoughts, trembling with urgency. “The gargoyles—their closing in!”

  I turned sharply toward the left and right corridors, my chest tightening as shadows began to emerge. Two gargoyles from each side.

  My heart pounded. As long as the Eyebat remained in the air, it would continue to call reinforcements. If I didn’t find a way to deal with it soon, we’d be overrun.

  “Vanguards, tanks—prepare for the gargoyles!” I called out.

  The slimes obeyed instantly, their formation shifting to meet the new threats.

  I need to change tactics, I thought, my mind racing. Bolts alone weren’t going to cut it. I needed a way to bring it down.

  Then, it hit me.

  The webbing.

  The massive, sticky strands I’d salvaged from the Brood Mother’s carcass. If we couldn’t hit the Eyebat directly, we could trap it instead.

  “Yes,” I muttered, the plan forming in my head. “That could work.”

  I reached into my pouch, pulling out the bundles of thick, sticky webbing. The material was as strong as it was versatile, and its adhesive properties were perfect for catching something small and fast.

  “Alright, listen up!” I called out to my slimes, holding up the webbing. “New plan! We’re using this.”

  The Rangers quivered slightly, their crossbows still ready.

  I worked quickly, dragging the webbing around each of their bolts. The sticky material clung to the arrowheads and shafts, forming a makeshift net as I wrapped it tightly.

  “Rangers, adjust your aim,” I ordered. “We’re not shooting directly at the Eyebat anymore. The target is the air around it. Fire in a rectangular formation, with the bat at the center point. We’re creating a net to trap it!”

  The slimes jiggled in acknowledgment, adjusting their positions to cover the area.

  The Eyebat continued to hover above us. It hadn’t yet realized the change in strategy.

  “Fire!” I shouted.

  The slimes released their bolts in perfect unison, the web-coated projectiles flying in a precise pattern. The air around the Eyebat became a trap, the rectangular formation leaving no room for it to maneuver.

  The Eyebat’s massive eye widened as it realized what was happening. Flapping its wings frantically as it tried to escape, but it was too late.

  The webbing spread out midair, forming a sticky net that engulfed the creature. The moment the webbing made contact, it curled around the Eyebat’s wings and body, twisting as the arrows connected and pulling at the net.

  The Eyebat plummeted towards the ground, its movements completely restricted. The sticky webbing clung tightly to its form, rendering it powerless as it crashed to the ground with a dull thud.

  “I caught it!”

  The Eyebat thrashed weakly against the webbing, darting its body frantically, but it was no use. The webbing held firm, binding its wings and body in an unbreakable grip.